I Have Super Sensitive Skin. After Years Of Testing, These Are The Products I Know I Can Use

The hype about this fragrance-free cleanser is real! As most CeraVe products are, it’s approved by the National Eczema Association and has been my main thing for years. Sometimes, eczema (or even just the weather or air!) can render my face extremely dry. I can cleanse with this twice daily without summoning the tight, parched feeling I hate. “It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, as well as ceramides [to], support and strengthen the skin barrier,”  Dr. Marisa Garshick told HuffPost in a previous report on all-purpose cleanser recommendations.

I keep a full-size bottle on my counter and a three-ounce bottle for travel at all times. 

Get it from Amazon for $12.37+ (available in two sizes).

I promise this isn’t meant to be a CeraVe ad, but I can’t mention the hydrating cleanser without also noting my second-in-command: The acne-foaming cream cleanser. I don’t use it daily (despite the brand saying it’s OK), but whenever I have a case of mild adult acne, this is the cleanser I lean on to clear it up right away and prevent additional outbreaks. Trying to address one skin issue without triggering another with my allergies is pretty much the story of my life and luckily, this product helps my successful balancing act.

Note: While this is a gentle, fragrance-free formula, it contains 4% benzoyl peroxide — an ingredient designed to kill acne-causing bacteria. Like most acne products, this means it can cause dryness (balancing act, remember?). That said, you can prevent it by following it with a good moisturizer and other hydrating products — and, oh darling, do I have great recs for this. Scroll on!

Get it from Amazon for $14.94.

At least once a month, I experience a bump or two, and these acne patches help clear them up quickly. It may not be a big deal to some that I can wear these because they’re so popular now, but as a kid, I couldn’t even put fun stickers on my face because the adhesive would break me out for days afterward. I tried one anyway because at least it didn’t have any added fragrance or other weird ingredients.

Not only does the patch minimize redness and the overall size of a pimple, but sometimes, it completely clears a bump overnight — no itching or scarring involved. I use the Invisible+ ones because they’re thinner and designed to wear discreetly in the daytime. At night or when I don’t plan to leave the house, I wear the Original acne patches.

Get them from Amazon: the invisible patches for $16.06, the original patches for $11.97, and a variety pack for $13.99.

Another item in my trusted CeraVe war chest is this fragrance-free acne control gel. It’s a gentle formula that not only clears up bumps but helps prevent future breakouts and minimizes the look of pores. I especially love that it’s non-drying because it’s alcohol-free and designed to moisturize, too — a first for me where acne products for sensitive skin are concerned. Transparently, even though it’s designed to be gentle, I still never lather it all over my face. I use it to spot correct only.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

In 2020, I had an extreme dry skin period with an unusual amount of acne breakouts. I learned from aestheticians and dermatologists that breakouts can happen due to your skin over-producing oil in response to dehydration. Down for something cheaper than a co-pay, I looked up this rosewater moisturizing essence after an aesthetician recommended it on Twitter. Of course, I dived into the ingredients first and to my surprise, the essence does contain fragrance! The reason I still tried it: It’s all-natural, derived from real roses and not some synthetic fragrance made up in a lab. The toner itself restores the skin’s pH balance while keeping it hydrated and supple, thanks to hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA. 

I used the hydrating toner with a mega-hydrating night cream and my face returned to normal in no time. I now use the night cream only as needed, but I still use this toner daily — after cleansing but before moisturizing. Dryness, solved!

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in two sizes). 

I always skipped traditional exfoliators because they irritated me so badly — especially the ones with the abrasive beads. (By the way, many dermatologists and aestheticians warn against using those face scrubs because they’re too harsh on anyone’s skin, even if you don’t feel it.)

This fragrance-free exfoliant from cult-favorite skincare brand Paula’s Choice has been a godsend. Instead of beads, this exfoliant includes 2% beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that gently removes layers of dead skin without the abrasion. I use this two times a week, and a little goes a LONG way, so I only ever buy the smallest (and cheapest!) travel size, which lasts me six months or more.

Get it from Amazon for $14.

Although I do use CeraVe’s lotion, too, the Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion reigns supreme for deep hydration if you have dry skin. It’s fragrance-free and thick for times when I’m dealing with excessive dryness. I like to put this on immediately after hopping out of the shower to rehydrate my skin, soften it, and give it a glow. The repair lotion comes in a range of thicknesses based on skin preferences and needs. Each Eucerin lotion bottle reflects the thickness in an easy-to-understand chart posted on the front of the label, and the range includes light, mid-level, and rich.

I use the richest on the meter primarily in the winter when my skin gets the driest or when I have a severe dry spell due to my eczema throughout the year. When I’m not going through any severe dryness, and it’s hot out, I prefer the lighter option; it’s easier to spread and still hydrates well. I also keep the mini-size on hand in my purse to rehydrate my hands since I wash them so often. I never put it on my face because even the lightest one is too heavy for that.

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

For my face, I keep this fragrance-free daily moisturizing lotion on hand. This one is rich enough to hydrate the full body thanks to the hyaluronic acid on the ingredients list, which can keep the body moisturized for up to 24 hours! It also has ceramides that restore and maintain the skin’s barrier. Still, the lotion is light enough to use on the face without causing breakouts. I love to check this one in my suitcase when I travel so I can save space by using one product to moisturize my face and body.

Get it from Amazon for $13.68.

The eye area tends to be the most sensitive part of most humans’ faces, and it’s extra sensitive for me. While many brands tout a “gentle” eye cream, I pray CeraVe never stops making this fragrance-free eye repair because it’s the only one I can apply without waking up to lids twice their size. It has the three essential ceramides that repair and protect the skin barrier, plus hyaluronic acid to keep the area from becoming dry and papery. The cream also helps minimize the look of puffiness and dark circles (ones that aren’t associated with genetics). I also use it on my lips if I’m ever in a pinch and can’t find my lip balm, and, hey, it works.

Friendly heads up: This isn’t the cream for addressing fine lines and wrinkles. The one you’re looking for is CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Eye Cream. I haven’t tried that one, but it does have thousands of 5-star ratings if you’re interested. Both creams are recommended by dermatologists, per previous HuffPost reports.

Get it from Amazon for $14.44.

This fragrance-free sunscreen is pricier than others but I declare it’s worth every penny spent and I buy it on repeat. It’s super lightweight on my face thanks to an oil-free formula and it offers SPF 40 sun protection.

Lastly and most important to me, it looks GREAT on my face. Most sunscreens on the market give me a white cast that I hate. As powerful as this one is, the product isn’t visually detectable. Because a little goes a long way, I keep one mini-size for daily use and another in my toiletry bag for travel. The sunscreen is water- and sweat-resistant for up to 40 minutes and can even be worn under makeup.

Get it from Amazon for $18+.

I also adore Black Girl Sunscreen and keep several bottles on hand, especially during the summer. Although it’s designed for the face and body, I only apply it to my body because I prefer the lighter, Supergoop! formula on my face. 

That said, the brand did release a face-specific sunscreen after its initial launch that I tried later with positive results. Both formulas are fragrance-free and leave no white cast — making BGS and Supergoop! the only fragrance-free sun-protective products on the market that don’t irritate my skin. For BGS, I also appreciate that it’s designed with other important skincare properties like jojoba, cacao, and avocado, which nourish the skin and keep it hydrated.

Get it from Amazon for $10.96.

I could never participate in the self-care masking fun I see so many people doing on social media until I found this hydrating Drink Up face mask. It’s free of irritating ingredients like silicones, parabens and fragrances yet rich with yummy ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and licorice root. 

The mask also has a cooling, soft and jelly-like texture, making it a soothing way to relax and treat yourself at the end of a hot, summer day. Get a pack of five from Amazon!

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $12.

Dove has been my go-to brand for body wash and soaps for almost my entire life. In middle school, I used their fragrance-free bar soap. By high school, I was a body wash snob using their fragrance-free option. That product eventually phased out for a sensitive skin version that I don’t love. This January, Dove released its ultra-sensitive body wash that’s a dream, OK? It doesn’t lather much but it cleanses without drying and most importantly, it doesn’t irritate.

Note: Yes, items labeled “sensitive skin” versus “fragrance-free” are different. They mean different things about the ingredients list and subsequently, how people with fragrance allergies may react to the products. For more info about the difference between the labeling, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s cheat sheet about it. Short version: I go with fragrance-free products nearly every time.

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

Clinique is the OG skin care brand my mother and grandmother used and it’s still a fine choice for high-end beauty finds that people with sensitive skin can indulge in. The brand’s Moisture Surge hydrator has supported my skin since high school. First launched in 1988 and revamped with an improved formula in 2021, it remains a reliable workhorse of a product. The formula hydrates helps brighten dark spots, smoothes, and preps skin for makeup, and can even be used as a 15-minute mask! (Before I found an actual face mask my skin could handle, I used this during my nighttime routine, and it zapped the dryness away with ease.)

Get it from Amazon for $16.15+.

This fragrance-free night cream works really well to superhydrate and restore the skin’s protective barrier overnight. It’s also packed with peptides that help smooth lines and wrinkles. Truthfully, though, the cream isn’t as hydrating as the Clinique Moisture Surge, but I do use it a lot and recommend it to others because it goes on sale more often. It’s also more convenient to find and buy than Clinique’s hydrator, even though they’re both sold online. This one is an easier pick-up product at way more stores where you would be shopping for other things in person if you need it more immediately.

Get it from Amazon for $17.44.

As you likely know, wipes come in handy for all sorts of things, especially when you’re on the go. Unfortunately, plenty of wipes described as “sensitive” and even “fragrance-free” still burned my face. I keep a pack of these fragrance-free baby wipes in my bag at all times because I never know when I need to wipe something on or around me. These I can use on my face, neck and hands with no trouble. They’re available in travel and full sizes plus three quantity options. (If you’re ever in-person, look for the smallest size on the aisle for travel-size toiletries.)

Get a pack of 72 from Target for $2.99.

Speaking of wipes, these pH-balanced Summer’s Eve wipes are fragrance-, dye- and paraben-free so you can wipe intimate areas on the go without risking irritation. Although I try my darndest to rarely use public restrooms, sometimes, I just gotta go. And sometimes? I accidentally go into the stall without checking if it has tissue first. When that happens, these wipes are always in my bag to save the day without causing more issues later.

But also, honestly? I originally bought these to keep on hand in case I had to wipe my pits down at an outdoor concert last year. Per the reviews, I’m not the only one who uses them all over. 

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $6.42.

Shocking revelation here: Scalp is skin. We don’t often treat it like it is because we put things on our heads that we’d never allow on our faces. Still, our scalps can call for a little skin care-focused TLC. This lightweight Seen Restore scalp serum has been my holy grail. Is it expensive? Yes, but it’s worth every penny. The serum is a fragrance-free, non-greasy formula perfect for hydrating my scalp when it gets dry but I don’t have time (or it’s too early) for a full wash day. The Seen brand itself is a skin care-focused hair care brand founded by a Harvard-trained dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin. 

I wouldn’t dare apply many of the scalp serums on the market because they’d take me from one itchy situation to a worse one that requires medication — but this serum saves the day every time. I buy it at full price without blinking, but we’re both in luck because it’s 21% off right now.

Get it from Amazon for $38.

Speaking of watching what I put on my head so I don’t spite my scalp, this Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioner combo is also an affordable hair care system that’s gentle on my skin. It’s especially helpful because I cleanse my hair in the shower to kill two birds with one wash session. With this combo, I don’t have to worry about irritating my scalp or any other part of my body while it runs down in the water. Of course, because it’s still a hair care product, I also appreciate how well it works on my hair. It’s designed for all hair types, and I’m very pleased it works for my kinks and coils. The shampoo is cleansing without stripping and the conditioner softens and replenishes.

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two sizes).

I wash my hands and sanitize them a ridiculous amount of times per day. Double that when I’m traveling. These fragrance-free Purell wipes ensure I can be as excessive with that practice as often as I please without triggering a reaction. They come in individual packets in a box of 100, and I have them tucked everywhere.

Get a pack of 100 for $11.70.

Yes, having sensitive skin requires me to also be mindful about what I wash my clothes with. As weird as it may be that something meant to cleanse my clothes could linger in fabric and make me itchy days later — that’s definitely my experience if I don’t use gentle laundry detergent. Fragrance-free Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets are a mess-free option I love. They’re also very lightweight and easy to slip into a carry-on or suitcase when I’m traveling.

Get it from Amazon for $13.49+.

Jojoba oil is one of the only oils that mimic the skin’s natural sebum, making it one of the most comfortable oils to lather on your skin without feeling greasy or sticky. When I need to rub my feet after a long day, I use it as long as it’s 100% pure jojoba oil. I even take it with me for the massage therapists to use at the spa instead of their house oils since those are often filled with fragrances that break me out. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Off! Clean Feel insect repellant is the only bug spray I can wear. It’s fragrance-free and does “feel good on skin” (as in not sticky) just as they market it on the bottle. I brought this with me on a trip to Aruba (along with bug-repellant bracelets) to survive mosquitos in the Caribbean and it worked superbly. 

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

Shocked to see repellent bracelets on a list of products for sensitive skin? Truly, if it touches the skin, it’s something I have to think twice about before contact. In Aruba, a friend was surprised I could wear these (because I can’t wear most jewelry). But ta-da, I can, they don’t irritate and they did repel mosquitos. The bracelets are made with all-natural geranium, lemongrass and citronella to ward off mosquitos without making trouble for my wrist. They’re available in packs of 10, 25 or 50. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+.